WashTimes: Steele rakes in fees

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele is asking for speaking fees of $8,000 to $20,000 per appearance in addition to his party salary of $223,500, The Washington Times’ Ralph Z. Hallow reports in Tuesday editions.

Hallow calls that “an unusual practice criticized by a string of past party chairmen,” including former RNC Chairman Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., who told the paper: “Holy mackerel, I never heard of a chairman of either party ever taking money for speeches.”

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RNC spokesperson Gail Gitcho told POLITICO: “This is silly. Many Democrat and Republican national chairmen have regularly received outside income. Michael Steele has been giving inspirational speeches based on his personal story long before he was elected RNC chairman and will long after. Chairman Steele of course does not receive compensation for any speeches conducted in his duties as chairman. He is more than a full-time chairman, is in complete compliance with all RNC rules and regulations, and is wholly focused on growing the Republican Party."

Hallow reports that the former Maryland lieutenant governor has been collecting fees from colleges, trade associations and other groups. The engagements are being booked by at least four outside agencies — in Washington, New York, Boston and Nashville, Hallow writes.

Steele spoke Sept. 21 at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., and will be paid $12,500 for an upcoming engagement at DePaul University in Chicago, according to Hallow.